Four Turkish political parties protest US sanctions

Four Turkish political parties protested Thursday against U.S. sanctions on two ministers in the strongest way, Anadolu Agency reports.

We say ‘no’ to the U.S. threats with common solidarity and determination of our nation, said the Justice and Development (AK) Party, the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Good (IYI) Party in a joint statement.

It added that it was the right of the executive body, or presidency, to give the necessary response to the U.S. based on the principle of international reciprocity.

Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the “U.S. attempt to impose sanctions on our two ministers will not go unanswered.

One of the ministers targeted for sanctions, Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul, said on his Twitter account that he does not own any property or have money outside Turkey.

Previously, White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders said the U.S. would impose sanctions on Turkey’s ministers of justice and interior for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.

Sanders said the U.S. would block the properties, if any, of the two ministers.

In a written statement published Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury Department said Gul and Minister of Interior Suleyman Soylu “played leading roles in the organizations responsible for the arrest and detention of Pastor Andrew Brunson”.

According to U.S. law, those mentioned on the sanctions list will have any of their assets and properties under U.S. jurisdiction blocked and American businesses and individuals will be prohibited from engaging in financial transactions with them.

Brunson has been charged with spying for the PKK — a designated terrorist group in the U.S. and Turkey — and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the defeated July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey which martyred 251 people and injured thousands.